Reading FC Match Report: 2016/2017 Season - Championship

14 February 2017READING 3 BRENTFORD 2

In a quite remarkable match Reading somehow snatched a victory from an excellent Brentford side. It was a game which had everything. A heady cocktail of great goals, superb defending, free flowing play from both teams, and numerous errors (not least from referee Stroud) which produced one of the most entertaining games of the season. Brentford fans will be wondering how they lost a game in which they played some outstanding attacking football and outplayed Reading for long periods of the game. Royals fans will not care having seen their team come back in spectacular fashion and move within touching distance of the play-offs.

New signings Mutch and Grabban started, and Swift returned as Jaap Stam made the most of the strength in depth of his squad. His selection appeared to be justified as Reading swarmed all over Brentford in the opening twenty minutes and took the lead with a sweeping move. Kelly typically shrugged of a challenge and threaded a perfectly weighted pass down the line to send McCleary clear of the Brentford defence. His attempt to pick out Grabban was thwarted by the outstretched leg of a Brentford defender and when the ball came back off the post Swift joyously slammed the ball into the net to give the Royals the lead against his former employers. Reading were rampant and should have added two goal in quick succession. Moore mistimed his header at the far post with the goal at his mercy. (Ironically Moore was dominant in the air all evening constantly winning the ball with perfectly timed headers.) Minutes later McCleary picked out Grabban with a perfect cross who swung a leg and missed the ball entirely. It was a coach’s nightmare. With the pace of the ball there was no need to swing across the line of the ball, he could have side-footed the ball past Bentley.

Brentford responded with an onslaught which Reading did well to survive. Wayward finishing and at least three good saves from Al Habsi enabled Reading to hold on to their lead until half time. Mutch had a mixed evening and almost helped Brentford to draw level on two occasions. His appalling pass exposed the Reading defence and Al Habsi rescued the situation with a good save and why referee Stroud did not penalise him for the most blatant two handed shove which sent Canos sprawling is mysterious to say the least. He was not alone though as Reading wilted under the pressure of Brentford’s assault on their goal. Even given the half time interval to re-group Reading were unable to keep their composure and shape and it was not long before the inevitable, and it has to said , deserved equaliser arrived. A dubious free kick was awarded to the visitors deep their own half, and while some Reading players paused to discuss the decision, Brentford broke away and scored Joozefzoon crossed through Gunter’s legs for Jota to tuck away from close range. There was no respite for Reading and Brentford took the lead a couple of minute later this time courtesy of a lapse in concentration from the referee’s assistant as Vibe was allowed to receive a through ball in a clearly offside position. Vibe finished with a shot deflected into the net by Gunter.

At that point Reading were in disarray and staring at defeat. A triple substitution by Jaap Stam turned the game on its head. Kermorgant, Beerens and Evans replacing Grabban, Swift and Kelly allowed Reading to steady the ship. Evans anchored a midfield which had lost its grip. Beerens provided some much needed width on the left and Kermorgant linked up play and opened up Brentford with some excellent passing. From one down Reading recovered almost immediately. Kermorgant dropped a perfect ball behind the Brentford defence for McCleary to drive on and whip in a near post cross. Williams released from the chore of protecting Gunter, bust a gut to get to the near post across the centre back and finished with some style to level the scores. (Reading forwards please note!) In a matter of minutes Reading and regained their lead. Bentley came out for a long ball hopefully pursued by McCleary and made a hash of the clearance. Kermorgant prodded the ball towards the open goal and Beerens, unopposed, helped it over the line.
The home fans went wild and then had to endure just over ten minutes of torture as Joozefzoon continued to torment Gunter and a fingertip save by Al Habsi kept Brentford out. It was a typically determined rearguard action to secure the points epitomised by mature a defensive display by the ever improving Obita. Also worth noting Al Habsi is starting to catch the ball which certainly helps relieve the pressure on the defence.

It is hard to see where the next win will come from with away matches against Huddersfield, Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday, and home games against Leeds and Newcastle looming. Thankfully a nine point cushion between Reading and seventh place Norwich allows room for slippage without dropping out of the top six. Reading however will not roll over like they used to, and I will be surprised if they don’t pick up a few points from those games.

John Wells

Post Match Fans' Opinion

Sutekh

» 14 Feb 2017 22:59

Well that was a game of moments

Reading spectacularly lurched from one extreme to the other and then back again and thank god they did

Really set themselves up with some fight and belief which is just what is going to be needed with trips to Huddersfield and Brighton next

However Reading rode their luck and when they were bad they were awful. We miss McShane dreadfully as without him it just seems to become a confused in the defence.

MOTM for me was Obita

2 world wars, 1 world cup

» 14 Feb 2017 23:05

I can't disagree with any of that.

Because I didn't go.

AthleticoSpizz

» 14 Feb 2017 23:10

nor can I.....because I left before you arrived

genome

» 14 Feb 2017 23:17

A cracking win. We were awful at times, and great at others. Great belief from the players.

Some quick thoughts on the bus home:

- Stam's subs were spot on. Evans and Kermorgant were brilliant. And a goal for Beerens.
- Some of the worst officiating I have seen for a long time, for both teams.
- Jozefzoon looks a phenomenal player. Gunter couldn't handle him. Is he on loan to them?

A great match, and I'm exhausted now!

AthleticoSpizz

» 14 Feb 2017 23:22

what bus were you on?

It made good time

windermereROYAL

» 14 Feb 2017 23:22

Hell of a game for a neutral observer, but god how nerve racking was that? Brentford looked a very good side with plenty of skillful players. thank god number 7 didn`t play from the start. he gave Gunter a right roasting when he came on.
We look so shaky at the back. young Reece Oxford came here for game time, hasn`t played a minute yet.
First impressions about Grabben is that hes not any better than Kermy. but hey its only one game.
3 of the goals were borderline offside. but I will happily take the 3 points.

PieEater

» 14 Feb 2017 23:26

Utter shambles of a team selection from Stam, Gunter is not a centre half, Williams is not a right back/wing back.

We got out of jail.

I await the arrival of the armchair critics to tell us all what really happened.

3points

» 14 Feb 2017 23:32

We were dire for large chunks of that game. A smash and grab three points. Too little quality throughout the team. Couldn't pass, poor control, couldn't dribble, sloppy defending, Al Habsi not being able to kick for tuppence. But we won

I don't get playing Gunter and Williams out of position. Would rather see Oxford start at centre back and play Williams in midfield instead of Mutch. Swift, despite the goal, was again shockingly poor. I like Grabban's pace. And we look much more composed and with a better shape in midfield with Evans in there. I think he is a very classy player.

moo

» 14 Feb 2017 23:34

An entertaining way to win.

However we rode our luck and could have genuinely conceded six or seven goals.

We took our fortunate chances and another three points.

I am happy, maybe just got to get used to winning differently to when Coppell and McDermott just steamrolled teams.

Royalwaster

genome

» 14 Feb 2017 23:46

Was still on the bus when I posted, through the magic of the mobile phone!

Royalwaster

» 14 Feb 2017 23:52

Just watched the highlight on sky along with the 4:1 drubbing in away game (on internet) and must say Brentford play some fantastic football .... but we somehow won it. But they had tons of chances even after we went 3:2 up they could have scored 2.